Signaling table lamp



Jan. 1, 1963 G. E. FREZIERES 3,07

SIGNALING TABLE LAMP Filed Sept. 21, 1961 IN V EN TOR. GRANT :E-P25215255 s s offFIG. 1;

United States Patent 3,071,764 SIGNALING TABLE LAMP Grant E. Frezieres,Granada Hills, Califi, assignor to Superweld Corporation,NorthHollywood, Califi, a

corporation of California Filed Sept. 21, 1961, Ser. No. 139,770

9 Claims. (Cl. 340-366) This invention relates to a table lamp for arestaurant or the like to be used for local illumination and in additionto be used by a patron to signal for service.

The broad object of the invention is to provide a pleasingly ornamentallamp for this purpose of relatively simple and durable construction thatwill provide subdued local illumination and be capable of signaling forservice Without using an intense or glaring signaling light. Generallydescribed, this object is achieved by using a signal light on the lampthat is pleasingly subdued and by energizing the signal lamp in apulsating manner. Thus the invention takes advantage of the fact that afluctuating light source quickly attracts attention. It has been foundthat a fluctuating light source of low candle power is just as effectivefor attracting attention as a steady light source of high candle power,in fact the weaker fluctuating light may be more effective.

A feature of the preferred practice of the invention is the concept ofusing such a lamp with a lamp shade for illumination of the environmentby indirect light and adding pulsating light to the indirect light. Thisconcept makes it possible to employ a very low intensity, distinctlycolored pulsating signal light above the lamp shade since the pulsationsof the downwardly reflected light also attracts attention to the patronsrequest for service.

Since the lamp has a translucent upright hollow structure, the wiringfor the two lamp bulbs and the means for supporting the 'two lamp bulbsin the upper portion of the hollow structure should be of a constructionto avoid casting heavy shadows on the translucent walls of the hollowstructure. In the present embodiment of the invention, this problem issolved by using a relatively stiff upright wire to'serve three functionsOne function is to support the two lamp bulbs. A second'purpose is toserve as a conductor in the circuits for the two lamp bulbsrespectively. A third purpose is to support two thepreferred practice ofthe invention, the general illumination switch is in a recess on theunderside of the lamp so that access thereto requires that the lamp belifted bodily from the table on which it rests.

The features and advantages of. the invention may be understood from thefollowing detailed description and In. thedrawing, which is tobere'girded "as merely illus- -trative: a FIGNI i513. verticallongitudinal sectional view of the .presentlypreferred embodiment of thelamp, the view b'eing'partlyin side elevation; r

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the lamp; FIG. 3 is a transverse sectiontaken along the line FIG. 4 is a fragmentary view showing the two lampbulbs as seen along the angular line 4-4 of FIG." 1'; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary section along thelline 5- 5 of 3,071,7s4Patented Jan. 1, 1963 FIG. 1 showing the signal switch and associatedstructure.

The selected embodiment of the table lamp has a hollow upright structurecarrying a downwardly concave.

lamp shade 10, the hollow upright structure comprising a tubular column12 extending upward from a base 14. At least the upper portion of thetubular column 12 is made of light-transmitting material. In thisinstance, the tubular column 12 comprises an outer support tube 15 ofsubstantially clear or transparent plastic and a translucent liner 16inside the tube. The translucent liner 16 may be simply a thin sheet ofsuitably colored plastic or paper rolled to cylindrical form.

The base 14 is downwardly concave and thus forms a relatively largerecess 18 on its underside. In the construction shown, the base 14,which is made of plastic and may be opaque, forms an upright chamber 20for a battery 22 and the bottom portion of the chamber is enlarged toform an annular seat 24 for the lower end of the tubular column 12. Thisannular seat is surrounded by a shoulder 25 to confine the lower end ofthe tubular column 12.

The lamp shade iii in this particular embodiment of the inventioncomprises molded translucent plastic which has a cap portion 26 restingon the upper end of the tubular column 12 and closing the top of thetubular column. The inner surface 28 of the lamp shade has a mirrorfinish to serve as a highly etficient reflector. The cap portion 26 isapertured to seat a small chamber 36 of colored translucent materialpreferably differing in color from the cap portion 26 to transmitcolored pulsating signal light, the bottom of the chamber being open andopening into the interior of the tubular column 12. In the constructionshown, the translucent liner 16 terminates short of the upper end of theclear support tube 15 so that an upper portion 32 of the tubular column12 has a transparent cylindrical wall lying inside the lamp shade 10.

An upright conductor in the form of a relatively still wire 34 extendsupward from the upper end of the battery chamber 20 and is anchored tothe upper end of the battery chamber by a metal fitting 35 which servesas one contact against one pole of the battery 22. The second contactfor the lower end of the battery is in the form of a resilient strip ofmetal 36 to support the battery 22 in the battery chamber 26. In theconstruction shown the metal strip 36 is made of beryllium copper. Oneend of the metal strip is hingedly connected to the battery chamber 20and for this purpose is formed with a loop 38 that engages an aperture40 in the side wall of the battery chamber 26. The second end of themetal strip 36 is bent to form a hook 42 for releasable engagement witha second aperture 44 in the side Wall of the battery chamber.

A first lamp bulb 45 for general illumination and a second lamp bulb 46to generate pulsating signal light are mounted on the upper end of thestiff wire 34 for support thereby. In the construction shown, the baseferrules of the two lamp bulbs screw into socket members 37 that aredirectly soldered to the stifi wire 34 for en- 'ergization of the twolamp bulbs by the battery 22. The first lamp bulb 4-5 is shown at alocation at which it is within the level of the lamp shade 10 butentirely surrounded by the translucent liner 16 so that the lamp bulbprovides only subdued and pleasingly colored light for generalillumination, the light being reflected downward by the inner mirrorsurface of the lamp shade Ill. The

second lamp bulb 46 is positioned at a higher level and .preferablyclose to the lower end of the upper translucent chamber 30. A portion ofthe light emitted by the second lamp bulb,46 illuminates the translucentchamber 30 and the adjacent translucent cap portion 26 of the lamp shadeto create the desired pulsating colored signal light above the lampshade 10. A substantial portion of the light emitted by the lamp bulb 46passes through the clear wall of the upper portion 32 of the tubularcolumn 12 to reach the inner mirror surface 28 of the lamp shade withonly insignificant loss in intensity. By virtue of this arrangement thesignal lamp 46 adds a pulsating component of clear light to the generalillumination. It has been found that the pulsating colored light ematingfrom the top of the table lamp above the lamp shade in combination withthe synchronous fluctuation of the indirect lighting of the tablesurface around the lamp is highly elfective for attracting attention tothe patrons need for service but the effect is not intense or glaringand does not objectionably distract other patrons.

A first switch 48 operated by a rotary knob 50 is mounted in the recess18 on the bottom of the base 14 to control the general illumination lampbulb 45. A second switch 52 is mounted on the lamp base 14 with amanually operable plunger 54 for turning off and on the signaling lampbulb 46. Supported by the second switch 52 is a circuit component 55 ofa well known type which automatically makes and breaks the circuit forintermittent energization of the lamp bulb 46 to produce the desiredpulsating signal effect. In the construction shown, the second switch 52is secured in an aperture in the base 14 by a lock nut 56 and this locknut anchors an angular bracket 58 on which the first switch 48 ismounted.

As shown diagrammatically in FIG. 2, one side of the switch 48 and oneside of the circuit component 55 of the second switch 52 are connectedto the metal strip 36 by a wire 60. The second side of the switch 48under the base of the lamp is connected to the lamp bulb 45 by a wire 62that is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2 and is shown in full linein FIG. 1. In like manner, the second side of the circuit component 55associated with the second switch 52 is connected to the signaling lamp46 by a Wire 64 that is indicated by a dotted line in FIG. 2 {and isshown in full line in FIG. 1. As may be seen in FIG. 1, the two wires 62and 64 are twisted or twined about the stiff wire 34. Since all threewires extend along the axis of the upright tubular column 12, they areconcealed by the translucent liner 16 and do not cast heavy shadows onthe liner.

In the construction shown, the upper ends of the two wires 62 and 64 areconnected to corresponding terminals 65 and 66 as shown in FIG. 4 whichterminals are mounted on the two socket members 37 in an insulatedmanner and touch the end contacts of the two lamps. It is a simplematter to lift the tubular column 12 and the associated lamp shade 10away from the base 14 to expose the two lamp bulbs and the wiring insidethe tubular column whenever it is desired to inspect or service thelamp.

It is to be noted that the stiff wire 34 is inclined so that an upperportion lies a substantial radial distance from the lower lamp bulb forminimum masking effect on the light from the lower lamp bulb.

When a restaurant first opens for a business day, a waiter lifts thetable lamp and manipulates the switch 48 on the underside of the base ofthe lamp to close the circuit for constant energiz-ation of the lampbulb 45 for general illumination of the table top. When a patronrequires service, the patron simply depresses the exposed plunger 54 ofthe switch 52 to cause the signaling lamp 46 to be energizedintermittently for creating pulsating signal light. The portion of thelight that goes through the translucent chamber 30 at the top of thelamp may be red or amber in color.

My description in specific detail of the selected embodiment of theinvention will suggest various changes, substitutions and otherdepartures from my disclosure within the spirit and scope of ttheappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a table lamp for use, for example, in a restaurant by a patron tosignal for service, the combination of: an upright hollow structure atleast the upper portion of which has light-transmitting walls; a firstlamp means in said upper portion to illuminate the environment; a secondlamp means in said upper portion to signal for service; a first circuitfor energizing said first lamp means; a second circuit to energize saidsecond lamp means intermittently with a flashing effect to attractattention; a switch for operation by a patron to energize said secondcircuit, said switch having a manual operating member exposed on theexterior of said structure for the convenience of a patron; and a switchcarried by said structure to energize said first circuit, the latterswitch having a concealed manual operating member difiicult of access toprevent inadvertent operation by a patron.

2. A combination as set forth in claim 1 in which said hollow structurehas a base and in which said latter switch is on the underside of saidbase whereby the lamp must be lifted for access to the latter switch.

3. In a table lamp for use, for example, in a restaurant by a patrontosignal for service, the combination of: an upright hollow structure atleast the upper portion of which has light transmitting walls; arelatively stiff conductor anchored in the lower portion of saidstructure and extending upward to said upper portion; a first lamp meanssupported by said conductor in said upper portion of the hollowstructure for illumination of the environment; a second lamp meanssupported by said conductor in said upper portion of the hollowstructure to signal for service; a first wire and a second wire bothsupported from the upper end of said conductor and extending downwardthrough the hollow structure; a first circuit including said conductorand said first wire to energize said first lamp means; a first switch tocontrol said circuit; a second circuit including said conductor and saidsecond wire to energize said second lamp means intermittently to attractattention; and a second switch to control the second circuit, saidsecond switch having a manual operating member exposed on the exteriorof said structure for operation by a patron, said first switch having amanual operating member concealed behind a wall of the structure toprevent inadvertent operation by a patron.

4. In a table lamp for use, for example, in a restaurant by a patron tosignal for service, the combination of: an upright hollow structurecomprising a hollow column extending upward from a base, said basehaving a recess on its bottom side, at least the upper portion of saidholow column having light-transmitting walls, a lower portion of thehollow structure forming a vertical battery compartment; a battery insaid compartment; a first contact in the upper endof said compartmentfor one terminal of the battery; a second contact in the lower end ofsaid compartment for the other terminal of the battery, said secondcontact releasably supporting the battery in the compartment; arelatively stitf conductor anchored at the upper end of said compartmentand extending upward to said upper portion of the hollow column; a firstlamp means supported by said conductor in said upper portion forillumination of the environment; a second lamp means supported by saidconductor in said upper portion to signal for service; a first wire anda second wire both supported from the upper end of said conductor andextending downward through the hollow structure; a first circuitincluding said battery, said first wire, said conductor and said twocontacts to energize the first lamp means; a second circuit includingsaid battery, said second wire, said conductor and said two contacts toenergize the second lamp means intermittently to create pulsating signallight; a first switch to control said first circuit; and a second'switchto control said second circuit, said second switch being exposed on theexterior of the structure for convenient operation by a patron, saidfirst switch being mounted in said bottom recess for difliculty ofaccess to prevent inadvertent operation thereof by a patron.

5. In a table lamp for use, for example, in a restaurant by a patron tosignal for service, the combination of: an upright hollow structurecomprising a hollow column extending upward from a base, said basehaving a recess on its bottom side, at least the upper portion of saidhollow column having light-transmitting walls, a lower portion of thehollow structure forming a vertical battery compartment; a downwardlyconcave lampshade surrounding said upper portion ofthe hollow column atan intermediate level thereof; a battery in said compartment;

'end of said compartment for the other terminal of the battery, saidsecond contact releasably supporting the battery in the compartment; arelatively stifi conductor anchored at the upper end of said compartmentand inclined upward to said upper portion of the hollow column; a firstlamp means supported by said conductor in said upper portion of thehollow column within the horizontal planes of said lamp shade toilluminate the environment; a second lamp supported by said conductor insaid upper portion of the hollow column to transmit light above the lampshade to signal for service; a first wire and a second wire bothsupported from the upper end of said conductor and extending downwardthrough the hollow structure; a first circuit including said battery,said first wire, said conductor and said two contacts to energize thefirst lamp means; a second circuit including said battery, said secondwire, said conductor and said two contacts to energize the second lampmeans intermittently to create pulsating signal light; a first switch tocontrol said first circuit; and a second switch to control said secondcircuit, said second switch being exposed on the exterior of thestructure for convenient operation by a patron, said first switch beingmounted in said bottom recess for diffieulty of access to preventinadvertent operation thereof by a patron.

6. In a table lamp for use, for example, in a restaurant by a patron tosignal for service, the combination of: an upright hollow structurecomprising a base having a recess on its underside and a hollow columnof substantionally transparent material'extending upward from the base,a downwardly concave reflector mounted. on said column and surroundingthe column near the top thereof with the top portion of the columnextending above the reflector, at least a part of said top portion beingmade of colored translucent material; a colored translucent liner insidesaid column extending upward from said base and terminating below saidtop portion of the column thereby providing a clear portion of saidcolumn below said top portion and inside said reflector; a relativelystifi conductor extending upward inside said column; a first lamp meansmounted on said conductor insider the upper end of said liner forilluminating the environment through the liner; a second lamp meansmounted on said conductor to signal for service; a first wire and asecond wire both supported from the upper end of said conductor andextending downward through the hollow column; a first circuit includingsaid conductor and said first wire to energize the first lamp means; afirst switch to control said circuit; a second circuit including saidconductor and said second wire to energize the second lamp meansintermittently for a pulsating elfect to attract attention; and a secondswitch to control said second circuit, said second switch being exposedon said structure for operation by a patron, said first switch beingconcealed in said recess in the base to prevent inadvertent operation bya patron, said second lamp means being positioned in said clear portionof said column for pulsating illumination of both said coloredtranslucent material of the top portion of the column and said clearportion of the column whereby pulsating clear light from the second lampmeans is reflected downward by said reflector and is thereby added tothe light from the first lamp means for attention-attracting pulsatingillumination of the environment under the reflector.

7. In a table lamp for use, for example, in a restaurant by a patron tosignal for service, the combination of: an upright hollow structure madeof light-transmitting material; a downwardly concave reflector mountedon said structure and surrounding the structure near the top thereofwith a top portion of the structure extending above the reflector, atleast a part of said top portion being made of colored translucentmaterial; a first lamp means inside said hollow structure in the regionof said reflector for illuminating the environment; a second lamp meansin the upper portion of said hollow structure to illuminate said topportion from the inside, said second lamp means being inside saidreflector for additional illumination of the environment; a firstcircuit to energize said first lamp means; a second circuit to energizesaid second lamp means intermittently to create pulsating light; a firstswitch for said first circuit; and a second switch for said secondcircuit, said first switch being concealed by said structure to preventinadvertent operation by a patron, said second switch being exposed onsaid structure for operation by a patron.

8. A table lamp having: a base open on its underside and providing anupwardly extending battery chamber, said base forming an annular seatsurrounding the upper portion of the battery chamber; a translucenttubular column removably resting on said seat; a relatively stiffconductor extending upward through said tubular column from said batterychamber; lamp means supported on the upper end of said conductor; andcircuit means to energize said lamp means, said circuit means includingsaid conductor and at least one flexible. wire extending along andsupported by the conductor.

9. A combination as set forth in claim 8 in which said tubular columncomprises an outer tubular support of substantially transparent materialand a translucent liner inside said tubular support.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS2,265,903 Hartje Dec. 9, 1941 2,415,991 Christian Feb. 18, 19472,804,611 Craddock Aug. 27, 1957 2,878,373 Bramming Mar. 17, 19592,957,169 White Oct. 18, 1960 FOREIGN PATENTS 161,703 Switzerland May15, 1933

6. IN A TABLE LAMP FOR USE, FOR EXAMPLE, IN A RESTAURANT BY A PARTON TOSIGNAL FOR SERVICE, THE COMBINATION OF: AN UPRIGHT HOLLOW STRUCTURECOMPRISING A BASE HAVING A RECESS ON ITS UNDERSIDE AND A HOLLOW COLUMNOF SUBSTANTIONALLY TRANSPARENT MATERIAL EXTENDING UPWARD FROM THE BASE,A DOWNWARDLY CONCAVE REFLECTOR MOUNTED ON SAID COLUMN AND SURROUNDINGTHE COLUMN NEAR THE TOP THEREOF WITH THE TOP PORTION OF THE COLUMNEXTENDING ABOVE THE REFLECTOR, AT LEAST A PART OF SAID TOP PORTION BEINGMADE OF COLORED TRANSLUCENT MATERIAL; A COLORED TRANSLUCENT LINER INSIDESAID COLUMN EXTENDING UPWARD FROM SAID BASE AND TERMINATING BELOW SAIDTOP PORTION OF THE COLUMN THEREBY PROVIDING A CLEAR PORTION OF SAIDCOLUMN BELOW SAID TOP PORTION AND INSIDE SAID REFLECTOR; A RELATIVELYSTIFF CONDUCTOR EXTENDING UPWARD INSIDE SAID COLUMN; A FIRST LAMP MEANSMOUNTED ON SAID CONDUCTOR INSIDER THE UPPER END OF SAID LINER FORILLUMINATING THE ENVIRONMENT THROUGH THE LINER; A SECOND LAMP MEANSMOUNTED ON SAID CONDUCTOR TO SIGNAL FOR SERVICE; A FIRST WIER AND ASECOND WIRE BOTH SUPPORTED FROM THE UPPER END OF SAID CONDUCTOR ANDEXTENDING DOWNWARD THROUGH THE HOLLOW COLUMN; A FIRST CIRCUIT INCLUDINGSAID CONDUCTOR AND SAID FIRST WIRE TO ENERGIZE THE FIRST LAMP MEANS; AFIRST SWITCH TO CONTROL SAID CIRCUIT; A SECOND CIRCUIT INCLUDING SAIDCONDUCTOR AND SAID SECOND WIRE TO ENERGIZE THE SECOND LAMP MEANS